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How to kill ivy
Ivy can be a great food source and habitat for wildlife, but sometimes it grows in difficult places and needs to go
Ceri studied horticulture at university and has spent her career editing gardening content. You shouldn't have favourites but she loves sweet peas!
How do I kill ivy?
Before you start, it’s worth thinking about whether the ivy really has to go as it's a good habitat and pollen and fruit for wildlife, doesn’t harm trees unless the tree is weak, and does not damage walls if the mortar is sound and can provide useful insulation. It responds well to cutting back so you can reduce it in size without removing it.
If the ivy is growing on a wall, cut through the stem with a sharp saw, dig out the root, and wait for the foliage to die before removing the stuck-on stems carefully with wire brush.
If it is covering the ground, dig it out with a mattock, spade or fork and dispose of it away from the garden. Alternatively, if the ground is not needed for planting, clear away all the top growth, then cover the ground with weed-control fabric and a 10-15cm deep layer of bark mulch and leave it in place for at least two growing seasons.
Alternatively you can spray it with a tough weed killer containing glyphosate, although be careful as this will kill any plant it touches. As the ivy leaves are waxy, spray lightly so the weedkiller doesn’t drip off or, even better, crush and damage the leaves before spraying to encourage them to absorb more weedkiller. Several applications may be needed.
We have tested a selection of weed suppressing membranes, including home-made and free options, to find out which will keep weeds down on your plot
Are there concerns about glyphosate use?
The main concern is that glyphosate can cause cancer. A second concern is there may be negative effects on bee health. However it is legal to use.